Veterans Day

the reality everyone ignores:

• Veterans account for over 20% of the U.S. homeless population, despite being only 8% of the overall U.S. population.
• The VA estimates that approx. 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and about twice that many experience homelessness over the course of a year.
• Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan face an unemployment rate of nearly 12%, substantially greater than the overall U.S. unemployment rate of 9.1%.
• Eighteen veterans commit suicide every DAY. A veteran attempts suicide every 80 minutes.

when you thank a veteran for their service, remember that what you are really thanking them for is doing horrible things so you don't have to do them, seeing horrible things so you don't have to see them, making unmakable choices so you don't have to make them, and risking their lives so you can feel safe in your own home. if you really want to honor veterans and military members today, work to END UNJUST WARS.